Spike 150
Connecting history & people together to celebrate one of America’s most important achievements.
On May 10, 1869, in Promontory, Utah, one of the most monumental and historically relevant events in American history occurred: the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad. 150 years later, the State of Utah and other key partners began a multi-year journey to throw the biggest celebration since the original “Golden Spike” ceremony.
As the agency responsible for the integrated creative, marketing, and advertising for the event, we centered the brand story on those often forgotten by history’s traditional teachings. Visually, we built a language dubbed the “Quilt of America,” celebrating the patchwork of landscapes and ideas that the railroad connected. This modular design system allowed pieces to be combined in any order, creating a visual centerpiece that spoke to Utah’s vital role in the project. We executed an extensive marketing campaign, planned major events, and worked with the state to promote 150 celebrations across every county in Utah. These combined efforts ultimately helped lead to Golden Spike Park gaining National Monument status.
Capability
- Brand Identity & Strategy
- Campaign
- Creative Direction
- Digital & Advertising
- Email & Social
- Graphic Design
- Print & Packaging
- Video, Film, & Photography
- Web Development
Industry
- Civic Entities
The Results
An estimated 22,000 people attended the sesquicentennial ceremony including over 85 news outlets from around the world.
With two decades developing results-based creative, our team has many more case studies and project experiences than we can show here. We’d love the opportunity to show more and talk about your specific goals.